GLEN ALLEN, Va. – 12-seeded George Washington’s lethal defense paved the way for the Revolutionaries 65-44 win over 13-seeded Loyola Chicago on Wednesday in Game 1 of the Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Championship.

The Revolutionaries will move on to Game 2 of the A-10 Women’s Basketball Championship on Thursday against fifth-seeded Rhode Island at 1 p.m.

Loyola Chicago jumped out quick behind a 3-pointer from Naelle Bernard to start the game. Paige Mott, facing the Revolutionaries only deficit of the game, gave GW the lead on a second-chance layup. Mott’s shot from the field was a part of 10-run that gave the Revolutionaries a 10-4 lead.

The Revolutionaries never surrendered their lead. GW shot 52 percent from the field with three players scoring double digits. Makayla Andrews led with 14 points, Kamari Sims had 13 and Gabby Reynolds scored 12.

“I think we all worked really hard today,” Andrews, who led GW with five assists, said. “We were passing the ball really well. We were connected, so I think that momentum just carried us.”

The Revolutionaries limited the Ramblers to shoot 27.8 percent (15 of 54) from the field and 17.9 percent (5 of 28) from beyond the arc. GW’s defense challenged Loyola Chicago to more shots from beyond the arc.

“We wanted to score more at the rim,” Loyola Chicago coach Allison Guth said. “That’s how we beat VCU and SLU in our last two games, was scoring more in the paint. But you look at this game and GW has 38 to 18 for us. Our adjustment was hoping we could create some more easy buckets than to launch the 3-ball.”

The Revolutionaries capitalized on the Ramblers missed shots and grabbed a 12-point lead in the second quarter. Bernard snapped Loyola Chicago’s scoreless streak at 6:50. She made two free throws and later sank a 3-pointer, which brought the Ramblers back within seven points of GW.

Bernard led the Ramblers with 13 points and added three steals. Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr scored eight and Audrey Deptula tallied five points.

Sims opened the fourth quarter with layup then made another shot from the field. Sims sparked an 11-2 run, which helped solidify the victory for GW.

“They ended a lot of possessions defensively,” GW interim coach Doug Novak said of Sims and Andrews. “They didn't foul. They didn't go down, they just laid their hands back, built a good wall and then we got the ball. So just the connected piece offensively and defensively is probably what brought me the most joy watching that happen.”